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Botensilimab/Balstilimab Breakthrough Data Presented at ASCO-GI Shows Unprecedented Tumor Shrinkage and Robust Biomarker Response in Prevalent Colorectal Cancer Population
Botensilimab/Balstilimab (BOT/BAL) shows major tumor regression in 67.5% of Patients with Localized MSS Colorectal Cancer (CRC), a tumor typically
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[{"type":"text","content":"\n\nBotensilimab/Balstilimab (BOT/BAL) shows major tumor regression in 67.5% of Patients with Localized MSS Colorectal Cancer (CRC), a tumor typically unresponsive to IO therapy\n\n\n\n\nThe study achieved durable elimination of ctDNA, a critical biomarker for cancer clearance and long-term disease-free survival\n\n\n\n LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nAgenus Inc. (Nasdaq: AGEN), a leader in developing immunological cancer treatments, today announced results from the NEST-1 study, an investigator-sponsored trial (IST) evaluating the combination of botensilimab and balstilimab (BOT/BAL) in the neoadjuvant setting for colorectal cancer (CRC), both those with Microsatellite Stable (MSS) CRC and Microsatellite Instability High (MSI-H) CRC. Dr. Pashtoon Kasi, M.D., Director of Colon Cancer Research at Weill-Cornell Medicine, presented these findings at the ASCO-GI conference.\n\n\n\"BOT/BAL's potential impact on colorectal cancer is groundbreaking. The study's findings, particularly the significant tumor regression after only a single dose of BOT and two doses of BAL, and the complete elimination of ctDNA in 100% of patients tested, offer a potentially transformative treatment approach for CRC patients diagnosed with early stage and locally advanced colon and rectal cancers. These results hold great promise for patients and providers as a framework for reduced reliance on chemotherapy and/or surgical resection,\" said Dr. Pashtoon Kasi, M.D., Director of Colon Cancer Research at Weill-Cornell Medicine and lead investigator of the NEST-1 study.\n\n\nStudy Highlights:\n\n\n\nTreatment Protocol: Patients received a single dose of BOT and two doses of BAL between diagnosis and surgery, which was approximately a four-week period.\n\n\n\nImpressive Pathologic Response: Tumor shrinkage of ≥50% was observed in 67.5% of patients in the Microsatellite Stable (MSS) CRC cohort and 100% in the Microsatellite Instability-High (MSI-High) CRC cohort.\n\n\n\nSurgery Without Delays: Treatment with BOT/BAL did not cause any postponements in surgical procedures, with only two instances of Grade 3 Treatment-Related Adverse Events (TRAEs) observed.\n\n\n\nBOT/BAL Eliminates Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA): patients in the NEST-1 study were tested for ctDNA, a biomarker closely associated with long-term Disease-Free Survival (DFS).\n\n\n\nIn a separate, ...